BROWNIES have renewed their pledge to be good neighbours as part of an exciting new project.

Cheshire Neighbourhood Watch has teamed up with Girlguiding to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

A new Neighbourhood Watch Challenge Badge has been designed for girls aged five to 18 to complete as part of their own unique syllabus. The challenge will see girls baking cakes for neighbours and community litter picking. Crime prevention activities and raising funds for charities will also be included.

Helen Kynnersley, leader of 1st Mobberley Brownies and committee member for Cheshire Neighbourhood Watch, came up with the idea, after realising that both organisations share the same goals. “In Girlguiding we make a promise to serve our community and other people,” said Helen.

The badge takes its inspiration from the traditional brown and yellow badges from the 1980s with images from original retro icons. “These values are very much aligned to what Neighbourhood Watch is all about. “Its mission is to support and enable individuals and communities to be connected, active and safe, which increases wellbeing and minimises crime.”

Guide leaders and volunteers are able to create their own badges as part of an unofficial challenge badge scheme.

Helen said: “The girls absolutely love collecting the unique and colourful badges created as part of the initiative.” Former Brownie Helen remembers three badges that were discontinued and has revived them as part of the new challenge. “The crime prevention, road safety and hostess badges all contained activities which complement the current initiatives of Neighbourhood Watch, “ said Helen.

A pilot scheme proved a big success and several local units have signed up for the challenge. Helen said: “The girls loved designing their own hi vis cycling outfits and completing a road sign quiz as part of the road safety element.”

All profits raised will be shared between Girlguiding’s Cheshire border and forest counties.

“I am so proud to be part of two amazing organisations that actively promote community spirit,” said Helen. “I am so thrilled to have been able to produce this badge to further promote neighbourliness within young Girlguiding members.”

The first Neighbourhood Watch scheme was set up in Mollington, Cheshire in 1982.

Celebrations will be held throughout the year to mark the milestone 40th anniversary.

For more information on either organisation visit girlguiding.org.uk and cheshirenw.org